Adjustable canopy

ABSTRACT

An adjustable canopy or awning includes a canvas cover which is connected to at least one cable pull, can be rolled onto a canvas cover shaft that is rotatably supported between two supports and is connected to a drive mechanism. The cable pull can be rolled onto a separate windup shaft and the windup shaft is driven by the canvas cover shaft. The canvas cover can be unrolled from the canvas cover shaft in opposite directions or two separate canvas covers and canvas cover shafts can be provided between the supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable canopy or awning comprising a canvas cover which is connected to at least one cable pull and can be rolled onto a canvas cover shaft that is rotatably supported between two supports and is provided with at least one drive mechanism.

Blinds, canopy or canvas cover arrangements are known in which a canvas cover is attached to a rotating shaft so that the canvas cover is completely fixed at one edge on the shaft. On the opposite edge of the canvas cover there is an emerging profile on which articulated arms engage. If the canvas cover is unrolled from the shaft, then the articulated arms pivot out and tension the canvas cover between bars carried by it and the shaft. For larger surfaces, however, this type of blind is not suitable, because the articulated arms sag too much and very large leverage forces act on the attachment devices.

Furthermore, canvas covers or canopies that can be unrolled for shading pergolas are also known. Here, a front emerging profile, to which the canvas cover is fixed, moves along two guide rails, while the canvas cover is unrolled from or rolled up on a shaft. The canvas cover is thus always tensioned between the profile and the shaft.

An adjustable canopy or canvas cover is known from EP 0 865 577 B1 in which the canvas cover is fixed along a folding line in its middle to a shaft. Two cable pulls attach to the two resulting canvas cover parts. The cable pulls are rolled up on the same shaft as the canvas cover itself. For this purpose, a windup roller on which the cable pulls can be wound up is attached to each of the two ends of the shaft. A disadvantage of this construction is that, because of the windup rollers located at the ends, the entire length of the shaft is not available for winding up the canvas cover. Furthermore, the forces acting on the cable pulls are transferred directly to the shaft that also carries the canvas cover. The applied forces can deform the shaft, so that the canvas cover can no longer be rolled up smoothly on the shaft. Therefore, the canvas cover itself can become damaged. In addition, the canvas cover always has to be moved out on both sides. One sided unwinding is not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem solved by the present invention is to create an adjustable awning or canopy with a canvas cover, with which large areas can be shaded and at the same time the canvas cover is held in tension with a simple construction.

An adjustable awning comprises a canvas cover to which at least one cable pull is fixed and which can be rolled onto a canvas cover shaft. The canvas cover shaft is supported so that it can rotate on two supports and is provided with a drive mechanism. The cable pull can be rolled onto a separate windup shaft. The separate windup shaft is coupled with the canvas cover shaft. Both shafts thus move synchronously during the rolling up or unrolling of the awning. By winding up the cable pull on a separate shaft, forces applied to the cable pull are transferred only to the windup shaft and not also to the canvas cover shaft. The canvas cover shaft is thus free from the compressive or tensile forces of the cable pulls. This construction is especially suitable for larger awnings. The arrangement of a separate windup shaft leaves the canvas cover shaft nearly unchanged in its construction. Thus, conventional canvas cover shafts, as used, for example, for blinds, can also be used for this awning.

The canvas cover shaft can be arranged between the two supports at an angle, so that it does not run horizontally. In this case, when it rains, rainwater does not collect on the canvas cover. Instead, the rainwater runs laterally off the canvas cover, so that the canvas cover is not loaded by the weight of the water. In addition, the canvas cover itself can be reinforced by plastic rods arranged parallel to the canvas cover shaft. In this case, the load carrying capacity is increased, so that the canvas cover is also suitable for rain protection.

Preferably, the canvas cover shaft is driven by a motor. The motor may be integrated into the canvas cover shaft itself, which leads to a compact design of the awning. For emergency operation in the case of loss of power, a hand crank can also be provided so that the awning can also be moved manually. In this way, the canvas cover shaft is driven, which on its part then moves the windup shaft.

The cable pull can be guided by the canvas cover over a deflection roller to the windup shaft. Thus, the windup shaft can be arranged in the vicinity of the canvas cover shaft, although the canvas cover is unrolled from the canvas cover shaft. The cable is then led from the deflection roller back in the direction of the canvas cover shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the canopy or awning according to the invention, the windup shaft extends outwards from one end of the canvas cover shaft. Both shafts may be arranged parallel and at a distance from each other, so that uniform winding is guaranteed. In addition, the spatial requirements for the parallel windup shaft are minimal. Preferably, the windup shaft is arranged above the canvas cover shaft, with an arrangement next to the canvas cover shaft opposite the unwinding direction of the awning also being conceivable. A laterally offset arrangement of the windup shaft may be necessary due to the space considerations.

Two windup shafts can also be provided. A windup shaft can be arranged on a support of the canvas cover shaft. The windup shafts must then run in synchronization. Thus, two cable pulls can be wound up on two separate windup shafts. This embodiment is especially suitable for awnings with rectangular or trapezoidal canvas covers, for which a cable pull is attached to each of the two free corners of the canvas cover. The canvas cover can then be rolled up or unrolled without sagging, and always be in tension.

Two awnings can also be combined together. For this purpose, two shades can be arranged one above the other, with both shades being held on the same supports. The canvas covers of the awnings are then unrolled in opposite directions. In this way, the area to be shaded can be doubled. Both awnings can be rolled up and unrolled separately from each other, so that the total area to be shaded can be varied arbitrarily. For such an arrangement of two awnings mounted one above the other, at least the windup shaft of the bottom awning is not arranged exactly. over the canvas cover shaft of the bottom awning, for reasons of space. It is slightly offset, preferably at an angle of about 45 degrees. The entire arrangement can then still be very compact. The distance between the two canvas cover shafts is small and may equal a few centimeters, preferably 5 to 10 centimeters.

The windup shaft does not extend over the entire length of the canvas cover shaft, because it must hold only the cable pull. A windup shaft of about 10 to 30 cm length has proven especially suitable. The length of the windup shaft, however, varies with the length of the cable pull required and thus with the size of the awning. The larger the awning and the farther it can be unrolled, the longer is the part of the cable pull to be wound up. The windup shaft must then be made accordingly longer.

The windup shaft and the canvas cover shaft can be arranged with one end on a common holder. This enables a compact and space saving construction and guarantees a parallel run from the windup shaft to the canvas cover shaft.

Advantageously, the windup shaft is driven passively by the canvas cover shaft via a toothed belt. The toothed belt enables the direct coupling of the two shafts. The rotational speeds of the windup shaft and the canvas cover shaft are equal. Alternatively, gear transmission or reduction can also be enabled with a toothed ring fixed to one of the shafts. Although a toothed belt made from plastic with metal wire reinforcement has been shown to be especially advantageous, a toothed chain, for example, made from metal, or a gear can also be used for driving the windup shaft. If the windup shaft is arranged perpendicular to the canvas cover shaft, a conical or bevel gear arrangement can be used to couple the two shafts.

The canvas cover of the awning preferably has a triangular or trapezoidal shape. For a triangular shape of the awning, the cable pull attaches to one corner of the triangle. When the canvas cover of the awning is rolled up and unrolled, the unrolled part of the awning is always held under tension. The canvas cover can be rolled up smoothly on the canvas cover shaft without forming folds. For a trapezoidal awning or canopy, two cable pulls must be attached to two corners of the canvas cover, so that the awning always remains in tension and does not sag during the inward and outward movement.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the canvas cover of the awning is fixed to the canvas cover shaft in the region of a folding line or separating line. At least two opposing cable pulls are provided, which are connected to the canvas cover. Both cable pulls are wound onto the same windup shaft. If the canvas cover of the awning is fixed at the folding line, then the canvas cover is doubled onto the canvas cover roller. Unwinding can then be performed uniformly in two opposite directions. In this way, a rectangular awning is formed from two triangles, with the canvas cover shaft being arranged at the common base line of the two triangular canvas cover parts. Relative to a square or rectangular canvas cover, which is fixed by its rectangle edge to the canvas cover shaft, the applied forces are halved or counterbalance each other.

optionally, the canvas cover can be folded so that two symmetrical triangles are produced. The sub areas, however, can also have different shapes or sizes. Moreover, they can be offset relative to each other. Through suitable folding, two trapezoidal or rectangular sub areas can also be formed.

Because both cable pulls in this embodiment are wound onto the same windup shaft, the extra structural expense is small, with the area of the awning available for shading being doubled at the same time.

In an especially preferred way, the width of the awning or canopy corresponds to the length of the canvas cover shaft. The entire length of the canvas cover shaft is thus used for attaching to the canvas cover. The available space is used optimally. A very compact canvas cover shaft can be realized that projects not at all or only a little past the awning. This embodiment has proven to be advantageous when the canvas cover shaft is supported, instead of on a support, directly on a building. In this case, shading can be realized up to the building. This is made noticeable especially when the canvas cover shaft is not directed parallel to the building, but instead at an angle. For an arrangement at a 90 degree angle in particular, the advantages of an awning spanning the entire canvas cover shaft are clear. Here no edge regions between the building and awning that do not contribute to shading are created.

In a special configuration of the awning according to the invention, there are spring elements that keep the cable pull or the cable pulls under tension. First, sagging of the cable pulls is prevented. Second, excessive tensile forces that are generated at the beginning of the winding up or unwinding are reduced by the spring elements. Because the cable pulls are held under tension, the canvas cover is also tensioned at the same time. The awning or canopy is tensioned not only in the completely unwound state, but also during the rolling up and unrolling. Sagging of the awning is reliably prevented.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy or awning in accordance with the invention held between two supports;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an awning with two canvas cover parts, which are unwound in opposite directions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combination of two awnings, which are held on the same supports;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of a holder for a windup shaft for the awning of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the holder of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an attachment element for attaching the holder of FIG. 4 to a tubular support; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wall attachment for attaching the holder of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, an awning or canopy comprising a canvas cover 1 is shown, which is rolled onto a rotatable canvas cover shaft 2. The canvas cover shaft 2 is held at its ends by two vertical supports 3 a, 3 b. On the support 3 a, there is a windup shaft 4 that extends parallel to the canvas cover shaft 2. The windup shaft 4 is at a distance from the canvas cover shaft 2. The windup shaft 4 and the canvas cover shaft 2 are held by a common holder 5 that is fixed to the support 3 a. A holding element 6 carries the windup shaft 4 on the end away from the support. The holding element 6 is connected to the holder 5 by connecting elements 7, so that the windup shaft 4 is held stably supported and can rotate easily. Together with the connecting elements 7, the holding element 6 and the holder 5 form a cage that encloses the windup shaft 4.

A cable pull 9 is fixed to the tip 8 of the triangular canvas cover 1. The tip 8 of the canvas cover 1 may be connected to cable pull 9 from above and below with pressure from two stainless steel plates, for example. Thus, the pressure from the cable is not taken at a single point, but instead distributed over the pressure surface. The cable pull 9 runs over a deflection roller 10, which is fixed to a support post 11, over a spring roller 12 arranged on the support 3 b, and over another deflection roller 13 to the windup shaft 4. The cable pull 9 is wound onto the windup shaft 4. The deflection roller 13 is held by an extension arm 14, which is mounted to the support 3 a. The extension arm 14 is arranged above the windup shaft 4. The cable pull 9 is therefore guided perpendicular to the windup roller 4. Thus, the guidance of the entire cable pull 9 is arranged above the canvas cover 1, so that the cable pull 9 never lies on the canvas cover 1.

The deflecting spring roller 12 is fixed to the support 3 b via a spring element 15. The spring element 15 is formed as a helical or coil spring. Alternatively, however, other elastic elements can also be provided instead of the spring element 15.

The triangular canvas cover 1 is fixed by its base side to the entire canvas cover shaft 2. Thus, nearly the entire surface area between the supports 3 a, 3 b and the support post 11 can be spanned with canvas cover 1. The canvas cover 1 protrudes towards the supports 3 a and 3 b up to a distance of about 5 centimeters from them. This distance is necessary for the attachment elements of the canvas cover shaft 2 to the supports 3 a, 3 b.

FIG. 2 shows an awning whose canvas cover 1 is fixed at a central folding line to the canvas cover shaft 2, so that two canvas cover parts 16 a and 16 b are formed that can be unwound in opposite directions. Because the canvas cover 1 is square, two triangular canvas cover parts 16 a, 16 b are produced by folding along the folding line. A cable pull 9 a, which is guided over the deflection roller 10 on the support post 11, over the spring roller 12 and over the deflection roller 13 to the windup shaft 4, engages with the canvas cover part 16 a. A cable pull 9 b, guided in similar fashion, engages with canvas cover part 16 b. The cable pull 9 b is led over a deflection roller 10 a on a support post 11 a and over a spring roller 12 a on the support 3 b around a deflection roller 13 a likewise to the windup shaft 4. Both cable pulls 9 a and 9 b are wound on the same windup shaft 4. In this way, two windings are produced one next to the other.

Instead of the spring element 15 in FIG. 1, now a spring arrangement is provided that is formed from three spring elements 17 connected to each other in a triangle and to rollers 12 and 12 a, as shown. In this way also, two of the spring elements 17 are fixed directly to the support 3 b.

In comparison with the awning arrangement of FIG. 1, the arrangement of FIG. 2 differs by another support post 11 a, two additional spring elements 17, and also two other deflection rollers 10 a, 13 a. Another difference is that the canvas cover 1 is now a rectangular canvas cover and is fixed to the canvas cover shaft 2 along a folding line, not shown, so that two triangular canvas cover parts 16 a and 16 b are formed. This expansion of the awning arrangement can thus also be realized at a later time in a simple way. Thus, the area to be shaded is doubled without providing additional large structural changes.

FIG. 3 shows a combination of two awnings according to the design of FIG. 1. Both awnings are arranged on the supports 3 a and 3 b, one above the other. The two rotatable canvas cover shafts 2 a and 2 b run parallel to each other. For completely wound canvas covers 1 a and 1 b, the distance between the two canvas cover shafts 2 a, 2 b is at least two centimeters, and preferably approximately 5 to 10 centimeters. The windup shaft 4 a of the bottom canvas cover shaft 2 a may be displaced at a 45 degree angle in the direction of the unwinding direction of the canvas cover 1 a. Only in this way can such a small distance between the two canvas cover shafts 2 a and 2 b be realized. The arrangement of the cable pulls 9 a and 9 b is realized in a way analogous to the awning arrangement from FIG. 2. Each of the cable pulls 9 a, 9 b, however, is wound onto separate windup rollers 4 a, 4 b. The two canvas covers 1 a, 1 b of the two awnings can be wound up and unwound separately and independently. The two areas to be shaded can thus be shaded separately.

In FIG. 4, the support arrangement for the windup shaft 4 and the canvas cover shaft 2 is shown in detail. The support or holder 5 is formed from a flat holding plate 22, which has approximately the shape of a vertical figure eight. A receptacle 18 a for the windup shaft 4 and a receptacle 18 b for the canvas cover shaft 2 are provided in the center of the two bulges of the figure eight. The windup shaft 4 and also the canvas cover shaft 2 each include an axle or positioning pin 19 a, 19 b disposed in the receptacles 18 a, 18 b, respectively.

In the upper part of the figure eight shaped holder plate 22 are four holes 20 in which the four connecting elements 7 are supported. The connecting elements 7 are preferably threadedly engaged with the holder 5. The holding element 6 likewise has four holes which correspond with the four holes 20 of the holder 5. Thus, a type of cage is formed between the holder 5 and the holding element 6. The cable pull, not shown in FIG. 4, is guided between the connecting elements 7 in the direction of the windup shaft 4 and is wound onto this shaft.

A mounting plate 23 is formed at a right angle to the holding plate 22 of the holder 5. The mounting plate 23 has a semicircular shape. In the outer region of the mounting plate 23 is provided an attachment hole 24 with which the mounting plate 23 can be fixed to a corresponding attachment device.

FIG. 5 also shows the arrangement of the windup shaft 4, canvas cover shaft 2, and its holding device. Toothed rings or pulleys 25 a, 25 b are arranged on the respective ends of the windup shaft 4 and of the canvas cover shaft 2 facing the holder 5. The pulleys 25 a, 25 b are arranged one above the other so that they are aligned with each other. An endless toothed or cog type belt 26 connects the two pulleys or toothed rings 25 a, 25 b to each other. Thus, the canvas cover shaft 2 and the windup shaft 4 are moved synchronously with each other. The windup shaft 4 is driven via the toothed belt 26 by the canvas cover shaft 2, which is moved by an integrated motor, not shown.

The windup shaft 4 is divided into two windup fields 27 a, 27 b by a barrier 28. Thus, the two cable pulls 9 a, 9 b can be wound onto the same windup shaft 4, in an awning arrangement according to FIG. 2, without the cable pulls 9 a, 9 b contacting each other or becoming entangled. The barrier 28 may only be high enough that it does not contact the connecting elements 7 of the holding cage.

Due to the greatly reduced holding cage with the four connecting elements 7 between the holder 5 and the holding element 6, the entire winding mechanism seems very transparent and technical. Thus, a very refined overall technical impression is produced.

FIG. 6 illustrates a tubular sleeve 29 pushed onto the round support (not shown here) for supporting the canvas cover shaft and screwed together with the support by means of two fixing screws. The tubular sleeve is produced, just like the support, from stainless steel. The walls of the tubular sleeve 29 are each between approximately 2 and 15 millimeters thick, depending on the surface area of the awning and construction. An attachment plate 30 is formed on the tubular sleeve 29. The attachment plate 30 points radially outward and extends over at least two thirds of the tubular sleeve 29 in its length. The attachment plate 30 is also semicircular for visual reasons. However, oval, rectangular, or trapezoidal attachment plates to the tubular sleeve 29 can also be provided. The attachment plate 30 has a hole 31. The attachment plate 30 is fixed to the mounting plate, not shown, by means of a screw.

For an awning arrangement according to FIG. 3, in which two awnings are arranged one above the other, the tubular sleeve 29 can also have two attachment plates 30 arranged one above the other. It is also conceivable to provide an attachment plate 30 that provides two holes 31 at a distance from each other, for holding two mounting plates.

FIG. 7 shows an attachment solution provided by a wall plate 32. Perpendicular to the wall plate 32 is an attachment plate 30 with a hole 31. This attachment device can be screwed directly to a building wall, so that the awning can be fixed directly to a building without additional supports.

List of Reference Symbols

-   1 Canvas cover -   2, 2 a, 2 b Canvas cover shaft -   3 a, 3 b Support -   4, 4 a, 4b Windup shaft -   5 Holder -   6 Holding element -   7 Connecting elements -   8 Tip -   9, 9 a, 9 b Cable pull -   10, 10 a Deflection roller -   11, 11 a Support post -   12 Spring roller -   13, 13 a Deflection roller -   14 Extension arm -   15 Spring element -   16 a, 16 b Canvas cover parts -   17 Spring elements -   18, 18 a Holder -   19, 19 a Positioning pin -   20 Hole -   22 Holding plate -   23 Mounting plate -   24 Attachment hole -   25 a, 25 b Toothed ring -   26 Toothed belt -   27 a, 27 b Windup fields -   28 Barrier -   29 Tubular sleeve -   30 Attachment plate -   31 Hole -   32 Wall plate

The construction and operation of the adjustable canopies or awnings described hereinabove is believed to be readily understandable to those of ordinary skill in the art based on the foregoing description. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. An adjustable awning comprising a canvas cover, which is connected to at least one cable pull and can be rolled onto a canvas cover shaft supported so that it can rotate between two supports and is connected to a drive mechanism characterized in that the cable pull can be rolled onto a separate windup shaft and the windup shaft is driven by the canvas cover shaft.
 2. An awning according to claim 1, wherein: the windup shaft is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the canvas cover shaft.
 3. An awning according to claim 1, wherein: the cable pull connected to the canvas cover is guided by at least one deflection roller forming a lead to the windup shaft.
 4. An awning according to claim 3, wherein: the canvas cover shaft and the windup shaft are fixed to a common holder.
 5. An awning according to claim 4, wherein: the canvas cover shaft and the windup shaft are coupled to each other by a toothed belt.
 6. An awning according to claim 3, wherein: the canvas cover has a triangular shape.
 7. An awning according to claim 1, wherein: the canvas cover is fixed to the canvas cover shaft in the region of a folding line and there are at least two opposite cable pulls, which are connected to the canvas cover and which are both wound onto the same windup shaft.
 8. An awning according to claim 7, wherein: the width of the canvas cover corresponds substantially to the length of the canvas cover shaft.
 9. An awning according to claim 8, wherein: the canvas cover shaft is driven by one of a hand crank or motor integrated into the canvas cover shaft.
 10. An awning according to claim 1, wherein: spring elements are provided for holding the cable pull under tension.
 11. An adjustable awning comprising: two spaced apart supports; a first canvas cover shaft disposed between and supported by said supports for rotation to roll and unroll a canvas cover; a first flexible canvas cover connected to and operable to be rolled onto and off of said first canvas cover shaft; a first flexible cable pull connected at one end to said first canvas cover and trained over a first deflection roller, a second deflection roller and a third deflection roller; a first cable windup shaft connected to said first cable pull for winding and unwinding said first cable pull; and means interconnecting said first windup shaft and said first canvas cover shaft for synchronously driving said first windup shaft and said first canvas cover shaft.
 12. The awning set forth in claim 11 including: a second cable pull connected to said first canvas cover at a point spaced from the point of connection of said first canvas cover to said first cable pull, said second cable pull is trained over first, second and third deflection rollers for leading said second cable pull to said first windup shaft for winding and unwinding thereon.
 13. The awning set forth in Claim .12 including: a spring element arrangement connected to one of said supports and to at least one of said deflection rollers for each of said cable pulls for tensioning said cable pulls, respectively.
 14. The awning set forth in claim 11 wherein: said means interconnecting said first windup shaft and said first canvas cover shaft comprises a toothed belt trained over respective toothed pulleys connected to said first canvas cover shaft and said first windup shaft, respectively.
 15. The awning set forth in claim 11 including: a second canvas cover shaft supported between said supports and supporting a second canvas cover for rolling and unrolling thereon and a second windup shaft operably connected to said second canvas cover shaft for winding and unwinding a second cable pull trained over plural deflection rollers and connected to an end of said second canvas cover. 